Heroes and Heroines

Mopipi Mutimana (circa 1875-May 5, 1930), a chief of the Lega people living southwest of Lake Kivu, acted vigorously to modernise his land and people....

According to tradition, Lukeni (who flourished in the late 13th century) founded the Kongo kingdom. The sources, however, are not unanimous, for some claim it...

Abuna Pétros (1882-July 30, 1936) was one of the principal martyrs of the Italian Fascist occupation of Ethiopia (1936-41). Born at Fiché, in the north...

Tohugu (Tohogo), who flourished in the second half of the 15th century, became the first Nayiri (paramount chief) of Mamprusi (Mamprugu) in what is now...

Estelle Sylvia Pankhurst (1882-September 27, 1960) was a British suffragette (militant advocate of women’s suffrage) who became involved in Ethiopian affairs after the invasion of...

Augustin Kinzonzi (May 25, 1901-June 19, 1955) rose to prominence as a Thysville (now Mbanza- Ngungu) merchant and government official during the colonial period. Kinzonzi...

Nkanga Lukeni (ruled 1641-61) or Garcia II, was Mani Kongo (ruler of the Kongo) during a time of military conflict between the Portuguese and the...

Makitu (circa 1856-April 1899), a prominent merchant and caravan organiser, grew wealthy from the 19th century ivory trade between the Atlantic coast and the interior...

Sebastien Ngonso (circa 1940-October, 1965) was a young Congolese poet whose work expressed the anguish and suffering he experienced in life. In the 1950s Ngonso...

Makanda Kabobi (March 16, 1940-September 25, 1972), was a scholar and teacher who became one of the most respected theoreticians in Zaire’s (now Congo) unique...